An economist's salary can become more substantial depending on how many years of experience they have under their belt. Economists in their first five years can expect to earn approximately $63000/yr, but individuals who have been in the workforce for five to 10 years can earn a noticeably bigger sum of $90,000/yr. Six-figure salaries appear after ten to twenty years on the job - reaping approximately $104,000/yr. Individuals who have worked for more than twenty years report bringing in $125,000/yr on average.

Students who earn master's degrees in economics can work as economists, senior data analysts, financial analysts, and research analysts. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), an economist's mean salary was $109,230 in May 2015. In the same year, economists working for the federal government earned $114,600 on average. Above average economist's salaries are found in San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, Los Angeles, and Atlanta.